The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-10
PBLIXADLER OF AEW YORK
MAKES A MAsTERFUL ANALYSIS
OF HENRY WARD BEECHRR,
Who, He Says, Was the Most Demo
cratic OF Prea cheers, q PEG
Pies Man.

NEW YORx, April T.-Relix Ad-
Ter, in Chickering Hall last Sunday,
took Henry Ward Beecher for his
text. He said: 1.-THE mantle of
death has fallen on one Of the most
conspicuous figures in recent Ameri-
can history" began Prof. Adler.
Henry Ward Beecher has gone to
his rest, pillswed on flowers and
mons praise. Ii is my purpose to
award him a discriminating praise.
l am recent convert of Mr.. Beech
er's werth. Formerly the apparent
INCONSISTENCY aud Inconsistency OF his
theological utteraAces made one
doubt the man. Again, the cloud
which at one time fell on his reputa-
ton also threw a shadow on my feel
ings, and while deeming the evidence
of his guilt insufficient, l was yet
prejudiced against him. In late years
a closer study of his writings has re-
vealed to me unity and coherency,
and in regard to the great charge
against him | believe him innocent,
and for these reasons:
First, his intense feeling led him
into extravaganza of expression, and
the strong sentences in his own let
ters were considered a great point
against him. Secondly, in the long,
great trial no attempt, or certainly
no successful attempt, was made to
prove any former delinquency. One
at his years does aot become evil at
snce, and this absence of all former
shortcomings is an argun ent, to my
mind, that there was none here.
Thirdly, Mr.. VIM. A. Beach, one Of
the opposing counsel in this cause
celebre, declared that Mr.. Beecher's
appearance on the witness Stand and
his impassioned denial of the charge
made him feel az if they were pack
of hounds trying to drag down
lordly lion. Fourthly, Mr.. Beecher's
conduct since that time. He con-
stantly pursued the functions of his
ministry with fervid zeal and gave
ardent utterances to the highest and
finest spiritual truth. The depth of
hypocrisy, steady and pervasive,
which this would suppose in him if
he were guilty not Of adultery alone,
but the deeper sin of perjury, seems
inoonceivable. | believe, therefore.
that we are justified in holding him
guiltless of this serious charge"
Mr.. Adler then went to develop
the cardinal point of his discourse,
viz. that Henry Ward Beecher was
the type of American democracy in
the pulpit. HE was not vain with
the ordinary vanity Of us mortals,
but he was supremely self conscious
of his power. Small people, when
they gauge q great man, always as
sign small reasons for his greatness.
When great power is exercised for
forty years, there must be something
back of it. American democracy
beheld its primal qualities embodied
in the man. To estimate him, then,
we should determine what are the
qualities of this democracy, which is
democracy unlike that of France
and that of Switzerland. Of course,
| use the word IN it's generic sense.
not in It's partisan one.
Henry Ward Beecher had q
strong consciousness. do not use
the term opprobiously. Sensuous-
ness is not sensuality. consciousness
is the keen perception and vivid en-
joyment of what Affects the senses as
Disseminated from the intellectual
pleasures. He loved flowers passion
ately. 1t was his boast that the
Plymouth congregation was the first
to inaugurate the custom of having
flowers in tho church. He loyed
gems-used to carry some around in
his pocket and feed his color sense
by feasting on their rich limpid hues.
He loved music-and trees. He had
the most sympathetic enjoyment of
natures beauty. Few preachers OF
the gospel-which, by the bye, of old
was preached to the poor-have
earned 81 coo, 900 from their mission.
These qualities, which are found in
the American masses, brought him
near to the democracy, from which
they spring.
THE second thing which marks
him as the product and fitting repre-
sentative Of this democracy was his
respect for labor. In the beginning
Of his career he was too poor 10 buy
house. He brought logs to build
him one. If Mrs. Beecher was sick,
Mr.. Beecher would rise and make
the fro and prepare dinner, before
starting off to ofiiciate at the morn
ing service, and would pacify and
recreate the children before leaving
for the evening one. The children
fall i'll also. and the wash multiplied.
Mr.. Beecher barred his arms and
washed his children's small clothes
in tub. What characteristic
picture of the man and what re-
markable exposition of true Demo
cratic principle, the kind Of principle
which forty years ago. before liveried
servants we're invented, supplied the
spectacle of the richest men of the
town vending their way to market
with baskets on their arms.
THE third democratic quality IL
Mr.. Beecher was his cosmopolitan.
ism. This is our signal gift. Other
nations exclude, we Americans in
clude. We take the good of all
This makes us benevolent. Politica
barriers are swept away. Nowhere
is this benevolence so great as il
America. This benevolence was tn,
supreme quality of Henry Ware
Beecher A fourth quality is tn,
sanguine spirit of Americans, anC
this was dominant in Mr.. Beecher
To be sanguine is an attribute o
youth, and we are youthful nation
We believe that we are leading tn,
way, and that we have only to keel
on in order to convince the rest o
the world, which will follow, Will
we are the vanguard in progress.
"Mr. Beeoher was Christian
preacher. Science and orthodoxy haV
often come in conflict. Criticism hal
often clashed with the Scriptures
But never before has the purel!
democratic spirit grappled with or
thodoxy and wrought modification i
| IL "a in Reecher An ironclad Cal